Hurta candidate for U.S. Presidential Scholars Program

Published 1:45 am, Thursday, March 3, 2016

Plainview High School senior Cameron Hurta has been named one of the more than 4,000 candidates in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by executive order of the president to recognize our nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors. Inclusion in the scholars program, now in its 52nd year, is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities.

Hurta was selected from more than 3.3 million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools this year based on his having scored exceptionally well on the SAT/ACT college entrance exams.

In addition to excelling in academics, Hurta participates in numerous activities at PHS. He is the band president and saxophone section leader, a tutor for Communities in Schools, a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Club, the Debate Team, Student Crime Stoppers, and is one of two student representatives on the School Health Advisory Council. He is active in theater and has participated in One-Act Play competition. His UIL competitions have included headline writing, newswriting, feature writing, editorial writing, and ready writing. He is also a member of the Hillside Youth group in Lubbock. Hurta was recognized by the Plainview ISD Board of Trustees in January for his selection as a state finalist in the State Congressional Debate competition. He was also one of only 30 students in the nation invited to participate in the North American Saxophone Alliance High School ensemble.

PHS Principal Tye Rogers said, “Cameron is not only an excellent student but a young man of the highest character and integrity. I am anxious to see where his hard work and dedication will take him in the future. Plainview High School is grateful to him for the manner in which he has represented our school. ”

A distinguished panel of educators will review submissions from the 4,000 candidates and select 800 semifinalists in early April. The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of up to 32 citizens appointed by the president, will select the finalists, and the U.S. Department of Education will announce the final group of approximately 160 U.S. Presidential Scholars in May.

Finalists are awarded the Presidential Scholars medallion and honored for their accomplishments during the National Recognition Program, held in June in Washington, D.C.

Hurta, the son of Dina Hurta of Plainview and Kirby Hurta of Houston, has applied to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia and Duke. He has received an acceptance letter from the University of Texas.